After reading the comments about the Steinway hammer rail cloth, I have a question. Several of you substitute sandpaper for the cloth used by Steinway. Why do you do that? But first, why does Steinway use the cloth? With Steinways propensity for doing everything to the n'th degree, I have a theory why they use cloth. I don't know if I am right, but I am sure some of you will tell me. I think the reason they use cloth is to keep the action quieter. Because the hammer rail is brass, when the hammer hits the string, the impact will resound through the hammer shank flange to the rail. The cloth acts as a buffer on that impact. If you leave the cloth off, or replace it with a hard material, even something like sandpaper, the impact will travel through the hard material, and reverberate. Any one care to discuss this? Willem Blees RPT St. Louis
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